Variety: Where are all the Oscar candidates?

Oscar candidates lagging this year First half of 2008 comes up short on potential As of Monday, the year was at the halfway mark, so in theory, the 2008 awards race is half over. Not a chance. The past six months have offered fewer potential contenders than any January-June period in memory. At least on paper, this year looks like a return to the old days, when the majors dominated awards and most of the nominees bowed late in the year -- in contrast with recent history, when the Oscar charge was led by specialty divisions and fall launches. In the last six months, there have been possible nominees in the below-the-line Oscar races (" ," etc.), and there have been strong animated features (" ") as well as too many docus to mention. But as for potential action in the "money" categories, not so much. However, keep an eye on... [read full story]